Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

Chapter 42 Seeking Immortality

In the east courtyard, Jia She heard the noise outside and couldn't resist coming out to see what was going on.

The boys busily carried jar after jar of wine into his cellar, making trip after trip, as if it would never end.

Jia She then casually stopped someone and asked him to bring up the wine.

He was a true connoisseur of wine, having tasted all the famous wines of the capital, so just by looking at the name of the wine and the packaging of the jar, he knew it wasn't some inferior product from a small workshop. He checked two other jars as well, and they were just average; one of them was a wine he had actually tasted before.

The wine that could be tasted by a dignified general like him could not possibly be cheap!

But considering that it was bought by Jia Lian, and that he hadn't even paid attention to Jia Lian when he brought it in earlier, he naturally couldn't show any good attitude now.

But since he didn't say anything, the servant had to speak well of his master, so he said, "Master, can you tell what kind of wine these are? We servants have heard that the second master went to great lengths to find these fine wines for you, and that he even spent over a thousand taels of silver..."

Of course, it's impossible that he actually spent over a thousand taels of silver; Jia Lian didn't have that much money on him at the time.

But this was precisely what Jia Lian deliberately spread as a misrepresentation.

Moreover, even if it doesn't cost that much, an average of over five ounces of wine per jar is still considered expensive, and ordinary families can't afford it!

Jia She snorted and said, "You good-for-nothing! What are you doing with that spare money instead of buying these things?"

Jia She had drunk the most expensive wines before, so he didn't think that so much wine was not worth the price. As for where Jia Lian got the money, he could easily guess that it was probably embezzled by the steward in the other mansion or that he made a fortune at the Lin family.

It's rare that this beast actually remembers him and is willing to spend this money to show his respect.

He waved for the servants to leave and was about to return to his room when a servant rushed in to report: "Master, something terrible has happened! Second Master is outside and has beaten up the old shaman you invited to the door!"

Upon hearing this, Jia She disregarded everything else, cursed loudly, and ran outside.

That wandering immortal was someone he had gone to great lengths to invite to his residence, and he had solved a huge problem for him. He had long felt that his health was deteriorating, but unexpectedly, after taking the immortal's elixir these days, he felt much lighter and had a feeling that he could live to be two hundred years old.

If that beast offends a god, he will never be spared!

……

In the outer courtyard of the east wing, Jia Lian was jumping up and down cursing an old Taoist priest with a sage-like appearance in front of him. If the servants in the mansion hadn't been holding him back, he would definitely have gone up and beaten him.

Yuan Dan Daoist, oh no, now Yuan Dan Immortal, touched his old face and glanced at Jia Lian with fear. My God, you really went for the kill! When you ordered me to come to the capital, you didn't mention this.

Do you, Yuan Dan Daoist, still remember when you were kidnapped and taken to a certain place, the leader's first words upon meeting you were: "I want to give you a great fortune."

Later, he followed the instructions and entered the capital, only to find that the other party had not lied to him and had indeed given him a great opportunity!

He simply raised his own social standing and spent two taels of silver to bribe two servants to say a few good words about his target. Sure enough, the target took the bait easily...

Within a few days, the dignified master of the Duke's mansion regarded him as a god, not only inviting him into the mansion but also giving him the highest respect, with lavish meals and countless amounts of silver to give him.

Are people in the capital really that generous? If I had known, I should have come to the capital to develop my career sooner, given my abilities!

He had just finished eating and drinking and went for a walk when he happened to see Jia Lian.

Just as he was about to step forward and exchange a few words, Jia Lian, upon seeing him, immediately looked at him as if he had seen an enemy and punched him in the face without saying a word!

He was stunned. "Boss, don't you recognize me?"

Although he felt wronged, seeing that a large crowd had gathered around him, Daoist Yuandan dared not forget his identity as a "wandering immortal." Enduring the pain, he stroked his beard, adopting an air of enlightenment: "This layman, why did you attack this humble Daoist?"

"You old swindler, not only did you cheat me out of my money, but now you've even tried to cheat me in my own home! I'll beat you to death, you old fraud!"

Jia Lian was furious and wanted to go up and beat him up.

The servants were terrified and desperately tried to pull him back, pleading, "Second Master, please reconsider! This old sage was someone the Master went to great lengths to invite back. Second Master, you dare not offend him, you dare not offend him..."

"Bullshit, he's a fraud. I met him back in Nanjing and bought one of his bullshit pills for a whole tael of silver. It didn't work at all after I took it."

Upon hearing this, the servant exclaimed, "Even you, Second Master, are willing to spend one tael of silver to buy a single pill. This shows that the old immortal is truly extraordinary."

These are real scammers. How could they dare to sell pills for one or two taels of silver each? And yet so many people are buying them?

"So that's how it is. You're mistaken, sir. I remember you said you were feeling unwell, which is why you came to buy my pills. But now, at a glance, you show no signs of illness at all. It's clear that my Qi-Boosting Pill has cured your old ailment. Now, instead of repaying my kindness, you're opposing my physical attacks. That's really not right."

Jia Lian hesitated, seemingly realizing he was in the wrong, but still retorted, "Nonsense! My illness healed itself, what does it have to do with you, you stinking Taoist priest? Fine, instead of staying obediently in Jinling, you've come to deceive my master. I'll smash you to pieces!"

Jia Lian seemed enraged and even tried to hit someone.

Just as the servants were about to lose control, a powerful shout rang out: "You damned beast, who else do you want to hit? I'll smash you to pieces first!"

Jia She rushed down the corridor and immediately bowed to Daoist Yuan Dan, saying, "My son has been rude and offended the immortal master. Please forgive him."

Yuan Dan Daoist bowed and said, "You are too kind, sir. I am a person outside the secular world and would not bother with worldly people."

Jia She apologized again before turning around and glaring angrily at Jia Lian: "You wretched beast, who gave you permission to run wild here? Apologize to the Immortal Master!"

Jia Lian said, "Master, he is not some kind of immortal master. He is just a stinking Taoist priest who specializes in swindling people out of their money. When I went to Nanjing this time, I happened to run into him once and even bought one of his pills. Who knew that it had no effect at all after taking it, and it even made me have a stomachache for more than half a month."

"Is that so?" Jia Lian's words finally calmed Jia She down a bit.

He still believed that Jia Lian wouldn't dare to lie to him so easily.

Yuan Dan Daoist said, "Enough, enough. It is because I am destined to meet your family. I foresaw your troubles and specially used the elixir to cure your ailments. Otherwise, how could you have met me in this vast sea of ​​people?"

Now that you have recovered from your illness, instead of repaying my kindness, you have come to smear my reputation. Why is that?

"In that case, I shall depart now."

Yuan Dan Daoist traveled throughout Jiangnan and had long since developed a knack for adapting to changing circumstances.

Seeing him walk towards the gate, Jia She immediately became anxious.

"Immortal Master, please wait!"

Jia She reacted quickly; compared to Jia Lian, he was naturally more willing to believe Yuan Dan Dao Ren.

After all, the elixir of immortality from Daoist Yuandan not only made him feel relaxed all over, but also restored his virility in that area...

This is a real and tangible result; otherwise, how could we have fooled him?

Why does my stomach hurt for half a month? Why did he eat for so long without feeling any stomach pain?

It's clear they're lying!

"You beast, you know I've always been unwell, and now that I've finally received help from the immortal master, my health is slowly improving, but you come to ruin it?"

I understand now. You'd love for me to die sooner rather than later, so that no one will be watching over you and you can live a carefree life, right?

I'll beat you to death, you unfilial wretch!

As Jia She spoke, he took a half-hearted step and kicked Jia Lian.

While dodging, Jia Lian begged for mercy and reiterated that Yuan Dan Daoist was a fraud, that there could be no such thing as a magic pill in the world, and that it was all a scam.

"You know nothing!"

Jia She couldn't kick Jia Lian, but he was exhausted and panting, so he became even angrier: "I think you really have rebelled, daring to slander monks and Taoists here! If there were no gods in the world, why would your Uncle Jing from the East Mansion spend so many years meditating and asking about scriptures in the Taoist temple?"

He passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). How could he be less intelligent than you?

"Damn beast, I really, really..."

He couldn't catch his breath and swayed as if about to fall, so the servants quickly supported him.

At the opportune moment, Daoist Yuan Dan presented Jia She with a "One Qi Dao Pill" and fed it into his mouth.

Here, he was an honored guest, free to spend money as he pleased, so naturally he wouldn't let Jia She pay first before getting the medicine.

Although he didn't understand what Jia Lian was up to, he realized that there were always higher-ups than lower-ranking officials. Fooling Jia She was far better than currying favor with Jia Lian. Perhaps, he wouldn't even need to consider Jia Lian a threat anymore…

He had great confidence in his elixirs; not only were the ingredients of the highest quality, but they were also incredibly effective, and he himself took them frequently. Considering he was in his forties or fifties, sometimes after taking them, he could even indulge in a night of pleasure at a brothel.

Sure enough, after taking one pill, Jia She immediately felt much more energetic.

With the obvious facts before him, he no longer hesitated. He immediately raised his arm and shouted, "Guards! Throw this unfilial wretch out! From this day forward, anyone who dares to let him in again will be beaten to death!"

Although he had previously given Jia Lian an order not to welcome him, he simply ignored it when Jia Lian actually tried to come in.

This time, he was determined not to let Jia Lian come back.

The appearance of Daoist Yuan Dan gave him hope of recovering his health. He wanted to enjoy wealth and honor forever, and no one could stop him!

The servants escorted Jia Lian to the door, weeping and pleading, "Second Master, please don't come here again. If you have anything to say, just talk to the First Madam. If we let you in again, Master will surely beat us to death. Please, Second Master, have mercy."

Jia Lian was no longer as agitated as he had been in the courtyard. Hearing the servants' words, he simply said, "You all serve the master well. Also, the words of those monks and Taoists are the least trustworthy. Don't let the master take any of those Taoist pills, or what if something bad happens to him?"

The servants thought to themselves, "The master doesn't listen to you, so why would he listen to us?"

However, that Taoist priest was truly extraordinary. As soon as the master took his pill, his voice immediately became full of energy!

If we have the chance, we'd like to buy some and try them. It's just too expensive; it would take two months' salary to buy one. We don't even know if he'd be willing to sell them to us…

Thinking this to themselves, the servants gave perfunctory replies.

Jia Lian then turned and left.

Eat up, eat more, the more you eat, the more energetic you'll become, and the faster you'll ascend to eternal bliss.

Jia Lian had already studied that Qi-Boosting Pill and confirmed that it was non-toxic, or at least not lethal!

However, anyone in later generations knows that this practice of burning elixirs to refine mercury is a fraud.

What's remarkable is that this Yuan Dan Daoist is even more powerful than ordinary Daoists, having added some invigorating and stimulating drugs to it. In fact, it's probably comparable to the "Five Stones Powder" in history.

This Daoist Yuan Dan was undoubtedly very clever. Not only could he deceive people himself, but he could also give his elixirs deceptive names. No wonder he easily fooled Jia She.

However, it seems that Jia She was indeed worried about his health. A person like him must be most afraid of death, which is the biggest problem. He and Yuan Dan Dao Ren are a typical case of supply and demand.

As for his outburst, it was merely to demonstrate that he opposed Jia She taking the "elixir of immortality," nothing more.